Continuous motion receptacle forming and filling machine



Sept. 24, 1935. w M [NGRAM 2,015,075

CONTINUOUS MOTION RECEPTACLE FORMING AND FILLING MACHINE Filed May 17, "1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR WflLTER M. INGRHN Sept. 24, 1935. M. [INGRAM 2,015,075

CONTINUOUS MOTION RECEPTAOLE FORMING AND FILLING MACHINE I Filed May 17, 1953 Q 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 TTORNEYS Sept. 24, 1935. w. M. INGRAM CONTINUOUS' MOTION RECEPTACLE FORMING AND FILLING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 17, 1933 INVENTOR WALTER/7f wow/7M BY ATTORNE Sept. 24, 1935. w. M. INGRAM 2,015,075

CONTINUOUS MOTION RECEPTACLE FORMING AND FILLING MACHINE Filed May 17, 1933 5 Shee ts-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR MVLTER M WGRfl/Y Sept. 24, 1935. w lNGRAM 2,015,075

CONTINUOUS MOTION RECEPTACLE FORMING AND FILLING MACHINE Filed May 17, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTOR WHL 72' R IV. Ill 6R4 Patented Sept. 24, 1935 CONTINUOUS MOTION RECEPTACLE FORM- ING AND FILLING MACHINE Walter M. Ingram, New York, N. Y., assignor to Millie Patent Holding Co. Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 17, 1933, Serial No. 671,555

15 Claims.

The present invention relates to receptacles forming and filling mechanisms and embodies,

more specifically, an improved mechanism by The carrier for supporting the cut portions and moving the same through the sewing machine, receiving the cut portions from a stationary mechanism after applying the cut portions thereto, has-heretofore necessarily been actuated intermittently. As a result of the intermittent motion of the carrier the mechanism'for actuating the sewing machine has been of rather complicated nature and the entire mechanism has therefore presented dimculties in the manufacture and maintenance thereof. To overcome the disadvantages of forming receptacles with an intermittent motion the present invention has been designed and an object is to provide a mechanism for forming receptacles with a" continuous motion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for continuously forming and filling receptacles with a suitable substance.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for continuously forming, filling and closing receptacles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a receptacle forming device having a carrier which moves continuously to effect the receptacle forming operations.

Further objects, not specifically enumerated above, will be apparent as the invention is described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure, 1 is a view in side elevation showing a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention and provided with a receptacle carrier which is actuated continuously.

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation leaking from the right in Figure 1, and showing the turning and filling mechanism, carrier and transfer mechanism, and driving elements therefor.

Figure 3 is a view in section, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows, this view showing the carrier and transfer table which are driven continuously.

- Figure 4 is an enlarged View in section, taken. on line 4-4 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows, this view illustrating the cutting mechanism for severing portions from a tube or tubes of material.

Figure 5 is an enlarged view in section, taken on line 55 of Figure 1, and showing the mechanism for securing strings to the bags. 10

Figure 6 is a partial view in end elevation showing the construction of the clamp driving means of Figure 5. a

Figure '7 is a view showing a receptacle formed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 8 is a view in horizontal section taken through the staple driving arm and feed mechanism therefor.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 6, showing the manner in which the string lies in the grooves 20 in the ends of arm, 93, this view being enlarged.

Figure 10 is an enlarged view in horizontal section of one end of arm 93 showing the string lying in the groove and within the staple.

Referring to the above drawings, the frame of 25 the machine constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown at Ill and is provided with a power shaft Ii which may receive power from a gear i2, countershaft I3 and pulley M, if desired. Power shaft H is provided with a driving pinion I5 which engages with a crown gear 16, secured to a transfer table l1. Table I1 is journaled at I8 upon a bracket i9 and carries a gear 2D'which engages with a gear 21, mounted upon a stub shaft 22 (Figure 3). Stub shaft 22 is provided with two similar gears 2|, 2 I one of which is driven by the gear 20 as previously described and the other of which engages a gear 23 which is secured to a carrier 24. The number of teeth upon each of the gears 20, 2|, 2l and 23 is such as to make the peripheral speed of the carrier 24 equal that of the transfer table ll. In as much as the diameter of the carrier 24 is less than that of the transfer table II, the axis of the shaft 25 is offset with respect to the axis of shaft I8, a support 26 being provided to maintain the elements in proper relationship.

A cage 21 is-oscillatably mounted upon shaft 25 and is provided with feeding mechanisms constructed in accordance with the copending appli- 5 cation of Louids Hirschhorn and Hans Irmscher for Cloth feeding mechanism for combination tea bag machine, Serial No. 614,090 filed May 28, 1932.

In as much as these feeding mechanisms form no part of the present invention they are indicated in outline only and will not be described in detail herein. In the descriptive matter which follows, the present invention is described as embodied in a device utilizing twin feeding and filling mechanisms. Obviously only one feeding and filling mechanism may be used if desired and the invention is therefore not to be limited to the use of a plurality of such mechanisms.

The cage 21 is provided with an oscillatable feed head 28 upon which similar feeding mechanisms 28 and 38 are mounted in parallel relationship. These mechanisms are supplied with material from reels 3| and 32 (Figure 3) which are journaled upon brackets 34 mounted upon the frame As the head descends, the ends of the tubes of material supplied from the reels 3| and 32 are moved over pairs of supporting fingers 33 which are mounted upon the carrier. 24. After the ends of the tubes have been mounted over the pairs of fingers 33 a cutting mechanism indicated at 34' in Figure 1 is actuated to sever portions of the tubes which are mounted over the supporting fingers 33 from the respective tubes supplied from the reels 3| and 32. The cutting mechanism will be described in greater detail hereinafter in connection with the construction shown in Figure 4.

During the downward movement of head 28 the cage 21 must be moving in the same direction and with the same speedas carrier 24. To effect such movement, an arm 35 (Figure 2) is provided on the cage 21 and is connected to a link 36 which is pivoted to one end of a crank arm 31 which is journaled at 38. Actuating arm 38 is connected to the arm 31 and provided with a roller 48 which is urged against the periphery of a cam disc H by means of a spring 42. Cam disc 4| is secured to a counter shaft 43 which is journaled upon the frame I8 and driven by a gear 44 which is driven by a gear 45; secured to the power shaft The foregoing mechanism thus serves to oscillate the cage 21 and during the time that the cage is oscillating in the direction of rotation of the carrier 24 the speed of such oscillation equals the speed of rotation of the carrier 24.

Movement of the head 28 upon the cage 21 is effected by means of a saddle 46 which is pivoted to the sides of the head 28 and connected to a pitman 41 which is connected to an arm 48. Arm 48 is provided with a forked extremity 48 which is journaled between spaced brackets 58 secured to the frame I8. The free end of arm 48 is connected to a link 5| which is secured to an arm 52 of a bell crank lever which is journaled at 53 upon a stationary bracket 54. The bell crank lever formed by arm 52 is provided with an arm 55, the extremity of which is connected to a link 56 which is connected to a driving arm 51 secured to the power shaft Driving arm 51 in rotating, thus causes the arm 52 to be rocked back and forth to reciprocate lever 48 in a vertical plane. The elements are so connected that during the following movement of cage 21 (the time during which the cage travels in the same direction as the carrier 24) the head 28 descends and thus places the ends of the tubes over the supporting fingers 33.

After the ends of the tubes are placed over the supporting fingers, the portions over such fingers are severed from the tubes by means of a cutting mechanism which is shown in detail in Figure 4. In the central plane of the cage 21, a pivot shaft 58 is provided. This shaft is adapted to lie midway between the pairs of supporting fingers 33, mounted upon the carrier 24, and oppositely extending cutter blades 58, 68, and 6| and 62 are journaled thereon. Blades 58 and 68 are formed as a unit while blades 6| and 62 are formed as a unit to cooperate with the respective blades 68 and 58. Blades 68 and 62 are connected to similar links 63 which are pivoted at 64 upon a slide 5 head 28 and is thus reciprocated vertically upon the cage 21. Plate 65 is provided with a notch or 15 recess 18 which is adapted to receive the pin 68 and thus enable the latter to prevent sliding motion of the plate 65 during the time of engagement therewith. Plate 65 is moved into the position illustrated in Figure 4 by means of a roller 1| which engages a cam rail 12, mounted upon a stationary bracket 13. As the cage 21 is reciprocated in a direction contrary to the direction of rotation of carrier 24, the roller 1| engages the cam track 12 and moves the slide to the right as viewed in Figure 4. As the direction of rotation of the cage 21 is reversed the head 28 falls and pin 68 engages notch 18 to hold the cutter blades in open position. During continued following movement of the cage 21 the tubes are fed over 0 the supporting arms.- At the end of the following movement the head 28 is elevated and pin 68 is disengaged from notch 18 thus permitting the cutting operation to be effected. After the cutting operation has been completed the cage 21 is again moved in a direction contrary to the direction of rotation of the carrier 24 and the cycle of operations is repeated.

Each downward motion of the head 28 thus places severed portions of the tubes over adja- 4 cent fingers and the continuously rotating carrier 24 advances such'portions through a sewing machine 14, as shown in Figure 2. The sewing mach'ne thus sews the ends of the portions to form receptacles which are supported upon the arms 33 with the upper ends thereof closed. The continuous stitches of the sewing machine which extend between adjacent receptacles are severed by means of cooperating cutters 15 and 16 (Figure 1). These devices are mountedupon a stationary bracket 11 and are actuated by a link 18 which is pivoted tothe arm 48.

From the cutt'ng mechanisms 15 and 1|; the carrier advances the arms and receptacles there- .on under similar turning'and filling tubes 18.

These tubes are mounted upon a head 88. which is slidable upon cage 21, the head 88 being reciprocated by means of a'saddle 8| which is connected by a link 82 to the arm 48. The tops of the tubes 18 are provided with hoppers 83 which are adapted to receive a substance from a suitable supply and direct the same into the tubes 18. During the following motion of the cage 21, the head 88 is lowered and the tubes 18 pass between the pairs of fingers 33. This motion effects a turning of the receptacles inside out and a simultaneous filling thereof, after which operation the filled receptacles fall into supporting cages 84, mounted upon the transfer table l1.

Supporting cages 84 are mounted upon the per'phery of the table l1 and spaced in accordance with the spacing of the pairs of arms 31. In this fashion when the filled receptacles fall from the carrier 24, corresponding adjacent supporting cages 84 receive these receptacles and cause the same to be moved with the transfer table I! through a sewing machine 85. The sewing machine 85 sews across the tops of the receptacles and thus effects the closing thereof. To improve the appearance of the closed receptacles, the sewing machine 85 preferably forms an overlooked stitch, as illustrated in Figure 7.

From the sewing machine 85, the table I! moves the closed receptacles into a stapling or clamp- :ng mechanism which is illustrated in detail in F gures 6, 8, 9 and 10. Mounted rotatably upon a stationary bracket 86 are spaced shafts 81 and 88. The shafts are provided with intermeshing gears 89, of equal diameter and pitch. One of the shafts, in the present construction shaft 88, is driven by a bevel gear 89 which engages a cooperating bevel gear 98 -(Figure 1) which is drlven'by the power shaft I I. In this fashion, the shafts 88 and 81 are moved simultaneously. An arm 9| is secured intermediate its ends to shaft 81, the ends of the arm being formed with staple turning recesses 92. A similar arm 93 is secured intermediate the ends thereof toshaft 88 and the ends of arms 93 are recessed at 98 to receive staple driving plungers 95. Springs 96 normally urge the plungers outwardly and movement of the plungers is controlled by means of rollers 9t which engage the irregularly, curved face 98 of a cam 99 which is mounted upon a stationary part of the machine.

Across each end of arm 93 is a horizontal groove I88 which is adapted to receive a string -I8I upon whicha plurality of tags I82 have been previ-. ously secured. 'A knife I83 is carried in each end of the arm 98 and may be actuated by the forward movement of plungers to sever the string I8I upon the completion of a stapling operation. The string I8I may be frictionally held at the ends of arms 98 in any suitable fashion and a staple feeding mechanism I84 is provided to apply staples to the ends of the arm 93. This feeding mechanism may consist of a magazine I85 within which the staples are provided, a spring I85 normally urging the same to the right, as viewed in Figure 8. A plunger I181 is actuated to move the staples into the recesses 94. Figures 8 and 10 show the manner in which staples are inserted into the ends of the arm 93 and the manner in which the string lies across the staple. Figure 9 also shows the manner in which the string lies in the groove I88, preparatory to being secured' to the receptacles. To accommodate such staple feeding operation, the bevel gears 89 and 98 may be mutilated to cause the arms 9i and 93 to rotate in a step by step fashion, or the staple feeding mechanism itself may move'with the arm 93 during a portion of the movement thereof. I

In Figure 3 a reel 183 has been illustrated as a means for supplying the string I8I with the tags attached thereto. In as much as the tag feeding mechanism forms no part of the present invention, further description herein is believed unnecessary.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a mechanism has been provided by means of which receptacles are formed continuously. This mechanism is comparatively simple in construction and operation and functions to form, fill, and close, receptacles in a continuous operation rather than an intermittent one as in existing constructions.

While the invention has been described with specific reference to the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited, save as defined in the appended claims. V

, I claim as my invention:

1. A receptacle forming device comprising a carrier, means to move the carrier, receptacle supporting means on the carrier, means to supply material to the supporting means, a sewing machine through which the supporting means moves the material to form a reseptacle, and means on the supporting means to evert and fill the receptacle.

2. A receptacle forming device comprising a carrier, means to move the carrier continuously, receptacle supporting means on the carrier, means to supply material to the supporting means, a sewing machine through which the supporting means moves the material to form a receptacle, and means to engage the receptacle on the supporting means to evert and fill the receptacle.

3. A receptacle forming device comprising a carrier, means to move the carrier continuously, receptacle supporting means on the carrier, means to supply material to the supporting means, a sewing machine through which the supporting means moves the material to form a receptacle, a transfer means associated with the carrier and adapted to receive receptacles therefrom, means to move the transfer-means at substantially the same speed as the carrier, and means to close the receptacles on the transfer means.

4. A receptacle forming device comprising a carrier, means to move the carrier continuously, receptacle supporting means on the carrier, means to supply material to the supporting means, a sewing machine through which the supporting means moves the material to form a receptacle, a transfer means associated with the carrier and adapted to receive receptacles therefrom, means to move the transfer means at substantially the same speed as the carrier, means to close the receptacles on the transfer means, and means to secure a string to the closed receptacles..

5. A receptacle forming device comprising a rotatable carrier having apluralityof receptacle supporting means spaced about the periphery thereof, means to rotate the carrier continuously, a cage oscillatably mounted upon the axis of the carrier, means to move the cage contrary to and in the direction of rotation of the carrier, means upon the cage to supply receptacle forming means to the carrier, and means to form receptacles of the receptacle forming means on the carrier.

6. A receptacle forming device comprising a rotatable carrier having a plurality of receptacle supportingmeans spaced about the periphery thereof, means to rotate the carrier continuously, a cage oscillatably mounted" upon the axis of the carrier, means to move the cage contrary to and in the direction of rotation of the carrier, reciprocating means on the cage to advance a continuous tube of receptacle forming means toward the carrier, means on the cage to sever portions from the tube, and means to form receptacles of the portions of the tube on the carrier. I

7. A receptacle forming device comprising a, rotatable carrier having a plurality of receptacle supporting means spaced about the periphery thereof, means to rotate the carrier continuously, a cage oscillatably mounted upon the axis of the carrier, means to move the cage contrary to and in the direction of rotation of the carrier, reciprocating means on the cage to advance a plurality of continuous tubes of receptacle forming means toward the carrier simultaneously, means on the cage to sever portions from the tubes, and means to form receptacles of the portions of the tubes on the carrier.

8. A receptacle forming device comprising a rotatablecarrier having a plurality of receptacle supporting means spaced about the periphery thereof, means to rotate the carrier continuously, a cage oscillatably mounted upon the axis of the carrier, means to move the cage contrary to and in the direction of rotation of the carrier, reciprocating means on the cage to advance a plurality of continuous tubes of receptacle forming means toward the carrier simultaneously, cutting members pivoted intermediate their ends upon an axis between the axes of the plurality of tubes, a slide bar normally urging the members into a cutting direction, means actuated upon movement of the cage contrary to the direction of rotation of the carrier to move the slide bar and cutting members to an open position, means on ,the reciprocating means to hold the bar and cutting members in an open position, and means toform receptacles of the. portions of the tubes on the carrier.-

-9. A receptacle forming device comprising a rotatable carrier having a plurality of receptacle supporting means spaced about the periphery thereof, means to rotate the carrier continuously, a cage oscillatably mounted upon the axis of the carrier, means to move the cage con: trary to and in the direction of rotation of the carrier, reciprocating means on the cage to advance a continuous tube of receptacle forming means toward the carrier while the cage follows the movement of the carrier, means on the cage tosever portions from the tube while the cage follows the movement of the carrier, and means to form receptacles of the portions of the tube on the carrier.

10. A receptacle forming device comprising a rotatable carrier having a plurality of receptacle supporting means spaced about the periphery thereof, means to rotate the carrier continu-' ously, a cage oscillatably mounted upon the axis of the carrier, means to move the cage contrary to andin the direction of rotation of the carrier,

reciprocating means on the cage to advance a continuous tube of receptacle forming means toward the carrier, means on the cage to sever portions from the tube, means to form receptacles of the portions of the tube on the carrier,

and means on the cage to fill the receptacles so formed.

11. A receptacle forming device comprising a rotatable carrier having a plurality of receptacle supporting means spaced about the periphery thereof ,means to rotate the carrier continuously, a cage oscillatably mounted upon the axis of the carrier, means to move the cage contrary to and in the direction of rotation of the carrier, reciprocating means on the cage to advance a continuous tube of receptacle forming means toward the carrier, means on the cage to sever portions from the tube, means to form receptacles of the portions of the tube on the carrier, an everting and filling tube slidably mounted on the cage,- means to move the last named tube toward the carrier upon movement of the cage with the carrier, and means to move the said last named tube, away from the carirer.

12. A receptacle forming and filling device comprising a continuously rotating carrier, means to supply receptacle forming means to the carrier, means to form receptacles of the said means, means to fill the receptacles on the carrier, a continuously rotating transfer table beneath the carrier, means to rotate the carrier and table at the same peripheral speed, recepta- I cle receiving means on .the table adjacent the periphery thereof to receive filled receptacles from the carrier, and means associated with the table to close the receptacles carried thereby.

, 13. A receptacle forming and filling device comprising a continuously rotating carrier, means to supply receptacle forming means to the carrier, means to form receptacles of the said means, means to fill the receptacles on the carrier, a continuously rotating transfer table beneath the carrier, the diameter of the table being greater than that of the carrier, means to rotate the carrier and table at the same peripheral speed, receptacle receiving means on the table, adjacent the periphery thereof to receive filled receptacles from the carrier, means associated with the table to close the receptacles carried thereby, and means to secure a string to the receptacles. 1

14. A receptacle forming and filling device comprising a continuously rotating carrier, means to supply receptacle forming means to the carrier, means to form receptacles of the said means. means to fill the receptacles on the carrier, 9. continuously rotating transfer table beneath the carrier, the diameter of the table. being greater than that of the carrier, means to rotate the carrier and table at the same peripheral speed, receptacle receiving means on the table adjacent the periphery thereof to receive filled receptacles from the carrier, and a stationary sewing machine associated with the table to sew the tops of the filled receptacles closed as. the table rotates. 15. A receptacle forming device comprising a carrier, means to move the carrier continuously, receptacle supporting means on the carrier, means to supply material to the supporting means, a sewing machine through which the supporting means moves the material to form a 55. receptacle, a transfer means associated with the carrier and adapted to receive receptacles therefrom, means to move the transfer means at substantially the same speed as the. carrier, means to close the receptacles on the transfer means,

a staple anvil, said anvil being positioned in such fashion that the transfer means moves receptacles against the face thereof, and means to drive a staple and string against a receptacle upon the face of the anvil.

WALTER M. INGRAM. 

